Burning ban is possible (06/19/07)

Jay County's fire chiefs will be meeting this week to consider a temporary ban on outdoor burning.

Dry weather and gusty winds have combined to create a dangerous situation, Jay County Emergency Management Director Ralph Frazee told county commissioners Monday afternoon.

"This dry weather is pushing it," said Frazee. "We're not seeing too much rain in the forecast."

Frazee said he had considered asking the commissioners to declare a burn ban but decided instead to discuss the matter with the chiefs of the Portland, Dunkirk, Redkey, Pennville, Bryant, and Salamonia fire departments. If the chiefs request it, commissioners indicated they would go forward with a ban.

"It's something we've got to consider," commissioner Gary Theurer said.

In other business Monday, commissioners met with Sheriff Ray Newton and Eric Ratts of DLZ, an Indianapolis architectural firm that specializes in security facilities.

Ratts had toured the Jay County Jail with the sheriff and offered to have his firm do some preliminary work so the county would know what its options are.

Commissioners noted that they've already been in similar discussions with local resident Jeff Badders of Schenkel Schultz, Indianapolis, but would be happy to have more information.

If the commissioners go forward with looking at expansion of the jail, they would seek competitive bids from architectural firms.

"The more advice we get the better," said commissioners president Milo Miller Jr.

Commissioners expressed interest in keeping the jail at its present site and indicated they would like to move forward before January of 2009, when a new capital projects board will be put in place under state law.

In other business Monday, commissioners:

•Heard a request from John Jay Center for Learning executive director Rob Weaver to include $25,000 in the county's 2008 budget to help provide operating support for the learning center.

That's the same level of support as in the current budget.[[In-content Ad]]